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Texas Tech basketball: Five best-case scenarios for 2020-21

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 25: Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders stand on the court during a timeout during the second half of the college basketball game against the Kentucky Wildcats on January 25, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 25: Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders stand on the court during a timeout during the second half of the college basketball game against the Kentucky Wildcats on January 25, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Feb 10, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleader brings the team onto the floor before the game against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleader brings the team onto the floor before the game against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

In order for this year’s Texas Tech basketball season to live up to our wildest dreams, these best-case scenarios have to come to fruition.

There have never been higher expectations on a Texas Tech basketball team than there is this year.  That’s not lost on Chris Beard and his team but after the abrupt cancelation of last year’s postseason, the head coach wants his team to live in the moment because nothing is guaranteed anymore.

"“I think [last year’s postseason cancelation] has fueled players and coaches and everybody,” Beard said last month, “not only to have the best year you can have, that’s every year, but, I think really to appreciate the journey.  We tell our guys to enjoy the ride, not just the destination.  Live where your feet are.  Smell the roses.  All these things basically mean, man, appreciate every day.”"

But while Beard and Co. and grinding away at the day-to-day process of getting better and coming together as a team, you can’t blame fans for looking ahead to what could be a special season of Texas Tech basketball.  And as we continue to gear up for another wild ride, it’s only natural for us to dream big, especially given that Tech will begin this season ranked No. 14 in the A.P. top 25.

So let’s drink from and look through glasses that are half full and rose-colored because the preseason is the time when hope springs eternal.  And if the following best-case scenarios become reality, we may find that so too will our hopes and dreams for this year’s Red Raiders.

Marcus Santos-Silva becomes a dominant force inside

There may be more placed on VCU transfer Marcus Santos-Silva this year than any other player on the roster.  Fortunately, the 6-foot-7, 245-pounder has the strength to carry such a heavy load.

Last year, playing in the ultra-competitive Atlantic 10 conference, he averaged 12.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.  That’s the type of productivity in the middle that the Red Raiders need this year given how solid the rest of the conference will be in the paint.

In a best-case scenario, Santos-Silva will prove to be just as dominant in the Big 12 as he was last year.  If so, it will secure one of Tech’s biggest weaknesses from a season ago.

The good news is that the senior has had big games against top-flight and high-major opponents in his career.  That includes a 22-point, 11-rebound game against Tennessee in 2019 which came a day after a 19-point showing against Purdue.  He also had 17 points and 11 rebounds against LSU two weeks prior to that and against a top-5 Dayton team this past March, he put up 12 points and pulled down 17 rebounds.

Last year, Tech relied heavily on another power forward, T.J. Holyeifled, to be the team’s primary inside presence.  However, the jump from Stephen F. Austin of the Southland Conference to the Big 12 was significant and though Holyfield was a key contributor, he never proved to be the type of force for Texas Tech that he was for the Lumberjacks as his scoring average fell by four points from the previous season and his rebounds per game fell by two.

This year, the jump in competition won’t be as steep for Santos-Silva.  Thus, he should hit the ground running and be a key force for his new team.

Fans are going to love Santos-Silva’s game.  He has the strength of a Norense Odiase but with a much greater scoring touch around the basket.  And if he becomes one of the Big 12’s best big men, he will make the Red Raiders a Big 12 and National Title contender.

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